Description

FRITZ WINDGASSEN (TENOR) (HAMBURG, 9 FEBRUARY, 1883 – MURNA, 17 APRIL, 1963)

 

 

 

 

He first worked as a sailor, then from 1907 studied singing at the Conservatoire of Hamburg under Vilmar. He made his debut in 1909 at the Municipal Theatre of Harburg as Manrico in Verdi’s Il Trovatore.

In the 1910–11 season he appeared at the Municipal Theatre of Bremen, and in 1911–12 at the Municipal Theatre of Hamburg. From 1912 to 1923 he was engaged at the Court Theatre of Kassel, where in 1916 he took part in the premiere of Georg Vollerthun’s opera Veeda. From 1923 to 1945 he was a leading member of the Stuttgart State Opera, making his debut there as Walther von Stolzing in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

He also made guest appearances, notably at the Frankfurt Opera in 1941 as Siegfried in Wagner’s Siegfried. During his career he participated in several important premieres: in Hamburg, Die Brautwahl by Ferruccio Busoni (April 13, 1912); in Stuttgart, Der Gondoliere des Dogen by Nico Dostal (1931) and Michael Kohlhaas by Paul von Klenau (1933). In 1928, he sang in the German premiere of Arrigo Boito’s Nerone in Stuttgart.

A highly respected concert singer, he gave his final concert in Stuttgart in 1949. After his retirement, he became a professor at the Stuttgart College of Music. He was married to the soprano Vally van Osten (1882–1923). Their son, Wolfgang Windgassen, became one of the most renowned heldentenors of his generation.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1909 Hamburg Municipal Theatre

1910-1911 Bremen Municipal Theatre

1911-1912 Hamburg Municipal Theatre

1912-1923 Kassel Court Theatre

1923-1945 Stuttgart State Opera

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Heimliche Aufforderung (Strauss) 62497 2100ax Polydor, Berlin, March 1925

Traum durch die Dämmerung (Strauss) 62497 2101ax Polydor, Berlin, March 1925

Über Nacht (Wolf) 62498 2100ax Polydor, Berlin, March 1925

Heimweh (Wolf) 62498 2104ax Polydor, Berlin, March 1925

Der Rattenfänger (Wolf) 62499 2103ax Polydor, Berlin, March 1925

Aennchen von Tharau (Silcher) 62499 2105ax Polydor, Berlin, March 1925

 

Tannhäuser (Wagner) Dir töne Lob! Die Wunder sei’n gepriesen (Loblied der Venus) Orchester der Stuttgarter Oper – lacquer disc – Stuttgart, 22. January 1936 [actual performance]

Tannhäuser (Wagner) O Walther, der du also sangest (Sängerkrieg) [excerpt]
Orchester der Stuttgarter Oper – lacquer disc – Stuttgart, 22. January 1936 [actual performance]

Tannhäuser (Wagner) Wie kein Büẞer noch sie je gefühlt (Romerzählung) [excerpt] Orchester der Stuttgarter Oper – lacquer disc – Stuttgart, 22. January 1936 [actual performance]

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Dein Stern war nur auf kurze Zeit [excerpt] Ch/O-Reichsrundfunk disc – Stuttgart, 1936

 

Neue Galgenlieder (Paul Graener / Christian Morgenstern)

Fritz Windgassen/pf: Friedericke Buchner – SDR tape E 19127 – Stuttgart, 9. May 1952

Das Gespenst

Ein Seufzer läuft Schlittschuh

Philantropisch

Palmström

Der Mond

 

Lieder eines Lumpen (Max Lang / Wilhelm Busch)

Fritz Windgassen / pf: Friedericke Buchner – SDR tape Ma 140 – Stuttgart, 9. November 1952

Da ich ein kleiner Bube war

Ich hatt’ einmal zehn Gulden

Im Karneval

Von einer alten Tante

Ich bin einmal hinausspaziert

Seit ich das liebe Mädchen sah

Was tat ich ihr zuliebe nicht

Doch ach, mein schönes Käferglück

Den ganzen noblen Plunder